Lee kicks off campaign tour in Sussex

It’s four years later and Bill Lee hasn’t missed a beat. The former Republican judge, who narrowly lost a run for governor in 2004 to Ruth Ann Minner, was in Georgetown July 22 to kickoff his gubernatorial campaign. The prayer breakfast at the Georgetown Family Restaurant was the first of nine stops,...

Lee, who narrowly lost a run for governor in 2004 to Ruth Ann Minner, was in Georgetown Tuesday morning to kickoff his gubernatorial campaign. The prayer breakfast at the Georgetown Family Restaurant was the first of nine stops, across all three counties, and marked the beginning of what Lee hopes will be a different outcome this time around.

“When I made the intelligent decision not to run, the convention challenged that decision,” Lee said at the Sussex GOP headquarters prior to the breakfast. “I’m grateful they did.”

Although Lee is still touting education improvements as one of his major priorities for Delaware, not everything is the same as it was four years ago. Lee said the party is far more united and other major issues have surfaced.

“The [biggest] issue has picked itself,” he said. “The economy is terrible, and Delaware’s economy is one of the worst in the country.”

The former judge said, if elected, he would adopt a “multi-pronged attack” to boost the economy, including fixing the education system, making government more efficient, strengthening small businesses and not implementing any new taxes.

“We need to make sure there are no new taxes; taxes kill jobs,” he said. “Delaware is one of three states that have a contracting economy. We’re last in new business startups, and we have high tech resources in this state that are being ignored by state government.

“We need a fresh start in economic development.”

Locally, Lee said he wants to protect the rights of property owners in Sussex and enforce environmental laws. He also said a push to get the University of Delaware to build a four-year college in Sussex is important.

Originally from Middletown, Lee has called Sussex County home for several decades now. Before becoming a judge, he served as chairman of the Sussex County Republican Committee. He has also acted as county solicitor, as well as spent time on the county and Rehoboth Beach planning commissions.